Please read Dr. Kumar’s article in Gerodontology titled, “Proof of concept design for a toothbrush with on-board vacuum to reduce oral aspirates.“
The electric toothbrush market in the United States is currently worth $2.5–5.0 billion/year, with a compound annual growth rate of 8%. Such brushes boast an array of benefits, including rapid brush head movement, sonic pulses, water ejectors and ergonomic design. Previous studies indicate that oral plaque removal can be achieved faster and more easily through the use of electric toothbrushes than with their manual counterparts.
Electric toothbrushes may not be safe to use for people who are at risk for aspiration pneumonia. The patients most at risk from oral aspirates during toothbrushing are geriatric people, severely disabled people, NPO (nothing by mouth) patients and young children. Requiring daily brushing to maintain their oral health, such patients are at constant risk with no convenient, affordable solutions available outside hospitals. To read the full article.
Proof of concept design for a toothbrush with on-board vacuum to reduce oral aspirates. Griffith A, Roy A, Kulkarni S, Simmons G, Osorno L, Kumar V. 2023 Nov 27. PMID: 38009571 DOI: 10.1111/ger.12730